Scherzer was born and raised in Chesterfield, Missouri to Brad and Jan Scherzer. After playing for Parkway Central High School in his hometown, Scherzer was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd round (1,291st overall) in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft but did not sign and instead attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He was then drafted again in 2006 by the Arizona Diamondbacks, this time in the 1st round as the 11th overall pick. He was Mizzou's first-ever 1st round MLB pick.[1] On January 9, 2012 it was announced that Scherzer would be one of six new inductees to the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. While at Mizzou he was Big 12 Pitcher of the Year in 2005.

On June 12th, 2004, Max Scherzer made his debut with the La Crosse Loggers as a freshman from the University of Missouri. He went 2-1 that summer with a 1.91 ERA with 6 saves. He also struck out 50 hitters in only 33 innings pitched. He was named a mid-season All-Star. He was selected 11th overall in the 2006 draft. 4th highest in NWL History. He began playing in the Diamondbacks organization in 2007 with the Single-A Visalia Oaks. He was promoted to Double-A Mobile BayBears after three impressive starts for the Oaks. In 2007, Scherzer also played for the Fort Worth Cats, an independent baseball team.[2] During the 2008 offseason, he was named the fourth-best prospect in the Diamondbacks organization.[3] After a good start to the 2008 season in Triple-A Tucson he was called up to the Diamondbacks on April 27, 2008.

On April 29, 2008, Scherzer made his MLB debut against the Houston Astros when he came on in relief and threw 41⁄3 perfect innings while striking out seven. While doing so he also set the record for the number of consecutive batters retired (13) for a pitcher making his MLB debut as a reliever. The previous record was 12 set in 1962 by the DodgersPete Richert. The seven strikeouts were one short of the major-league record for most in a debut relief appearance. The PiratesBarry Jones had eight on April 20, 1986. On April 30, 2008, the Diamondbacks announced[4] he would be placed into the starting rotation, due to his impressive debut. In his first appearance as a starter for the D-Backs, Scherzer allowed five runs (two earned) in four innings, while striking out five, taking the first loss of his major league career. He returned to the bullpen for much of the 2008 season. He started against the Cardinals, his home town team growing up, on September 24 and lost for the fourth time in his career in a winless season, going five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (two earned) while walking two and striking out four.[5]

Scherzer became a full-time starter in 2009, filling the fifth starter role in the D-Backs rotation. He recorded his first major league victory in a 12–0 win over the Atlanta Braves on May 16, 2009. On May 26, Scherzer recorded his second win of his career. He finished the 2009 season with 30 starts, a 9–11 record, 4.12 ERA, and 174 strikeouts in 170⅓ innings pitched.

Detroit optioned Scherzer to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on May 16, 2010, replacing him with Armando Galarraga.[7] Shortly thereafter he returned successfully to the major leagues, going 6–4 in twelve starts with an ERA of 2.62 and 85 strikeouts in 752⁄3 innings.

On May 30 against the Oakland Athletics, Scherzer accumulated 14 strikeouts in only 52⁄3 innings pitched. This was the fourth time in his career to date that he had 10 or more strikeouts in a single game. He allowed two hits, four walks, and hit a batter on his last pitch before being replaced. That mark was tied for the most strikeouts in Comerica Park history with Jeremy Bonderman, and tied for second in franchise history behind Mickey Lolich, who had 16 strikeouts in one game. On July 26, Scherzer and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza took a no-hit duel into the sixth inning. Scherzer lost the no-hit and shutout bids after giving up a grand slam to Matt Joyce, while Garza went on to throw the no-hitter.

On September 1 against the Minnesota Twins, Scherzer pitched into the 9th inning for the first time in his career. He gave up one run on four hits and one walk while striking out nine on 107 pitches, though he got a no-decision as the Tigers lost the game in the 10th inning.

Scherzer finished the 2010 season with a 12–11 record, 3.50 ERA and 184 strikeouts. Despite spending some time in the minor leagues, his strikeout total was still good for 10th in the American League.

In the 2011 season, Scherzer was the third starter in the rotation, and won six straight starts early in the year, being the first Tiger since Jeremy Bonderman in 2006 to accomplish this feat. He finished the season with a 15-9 record, and was 3rd in the AL in home runs allowed (29), 4th in wild pitches, 5th in hit by pitch (10), 9th in win–loss percentage (.625), and 10th in wins.[8]

On May 20, 2012, Scherzer struck out 15 Pittsburgh Pirates in seven innings, falling one strikeout short of tying the franchise record set by Mickey Lolich.[9] His career-high 231 total strikeouts during the 2012 regular season placed second in the American League, behind teammate Justin Verlander's 239.[10] His strikeout rate of 11.1 per 9 innings led the American League. He also finished the regular season with career highs in wins (16) and winning percentage (16–7, .696).

Despite battling a late-season injury, Scherzer pitched successfully for the Tigers in the 2012 post-season. He made three starts, going 1–0 with a 2.08 ERA, while striking out 26 batters in 171⁄3 innings. He pitched Game 4 of the 2012 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, the first World Series appearance of his career. He gave up three earned runs in 61⁄3 innings while striking out eight batters, getting a no-decision as the Tigers lost the game in extra innings.

On July 1, Scherzer was selected by player vote to represent the American League in the 2013 All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection. On July 15, Scherzer was selected to start the game by his manager, Jim Leyland, who managed the AL All-Star team this season.[15] Scherzer pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning in the game, striking out Joey Votto for one of the three outs. Entering the All-Star break, Scherzer had a 13–1 record, 3.19 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 152 strikeouts in 1292⁄3 innings pitched.

On September 20, after a 12–5 win over the Chicago White Sox, Scherzer became the first major league pitcher to reach 20 wins. Scherzer became the second Tigers pitcher to reach 20 wins since Bill Gullickson in 1991, following Justin Verlander in 2011, and the 45th in Tigers history.[18] He finished the regular season at 21–3, with a league-leading 0.97 WHIP, 2.90 ERA, and a career-high 240 strikeouts. He was the only 20-game winner in the majors in 2013. Scherzer's stellar season earned him the 2013 AL Cy Young Award, receiving 28 of 30 first-place votes.[19]

Scherzer had a dominant performance in Game 1 of the 2013 ALDS, recording 11 strikeouts and giving up just one hit through the first six innings, before surrendering a 2-run homer to Yoenis Céspedes. He finished with 7 innings pitched, giving up three hits, as he and the Tigers won the game, 3–2 over the Oakland Athletics.[20] He struck out Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, and Josh Reddick twice.[21] Scherzer was in line to make a Game 5 start in the same series, but facing elimination in Game 4, manager Jim Leyland chose to bring him in as a reliever in the seventh inning. Scherzer gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the inning, but the Tigers retook the lead in the bottom of the frame. Scherzer then loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth, but wriggled out of trouble by striking out Josh Reddick and Stephen Vogt, then getting Alberto Callaspo to line out to center field. The Tigers won the game, and Scherzer earned the victory to go to 2–0 in the series.[22]

Scherzer continued his brilliance into the 2013 ALCS against the eventual World Series champions Boston Red Sox. In Game 2 of the series, he no-hit Boston for 52⁄3 innings, eventually surrendering two hits and a run in the bottom of the sixth. He left the game with a 5–1 lead after seven innings, striking out 13. But a quartet of Tiger relievers blew the lead in the eighth inning, and Boston won it, 6–5, on a walk-off single in the ninth.[23] Scherzer was the losing pitcher in the Tigers 5–2 loss to the Red Sox in Game 6, the deciding game of that series.

On January 17, 2014, Scherzer and the Tigers agreed on a $15.525 million salary for the 2014 season, avoiding arbitration for the third straight year.[24]

On May 5, Scherzer struck out nine Houston Astros batters in eight innings of a 2–0 victory. This was his seventh straight game from the start of the season with at least seven strikeouts, establishing a Detroit Tigers franchise record. The streak ended May 10 against the Minnesota Twins, when he struck out 6 batters in 6 innings.[25] The Major League record for consecutive 7+ strikeout games to start the season is nine, accomplished by Bob Feller in 1946.[26]

On June 12, in his 179th career start, Scherzer pitched his first career complete game shutout in a three-hit 4–0 win over the Chicago White Sox. He struck out eight batters in the contest and threw 113 pitches. This was the longest stretch any major league starter had gone without a complete game since 1900.[27]

On July 6, Scherzer was named to his second AL All-Star team by way of John Farrell's manager selection.[28] He pitched a scoreless fifth inning in the game, giving up one hit, striking out two, and earning the win for the AL.[29]

Scherzer finished the 2014 season with an 18–5 record, 3.19 ERA and 1.175 WHIP. He pitched a career-high 2201⁄3 innings and struck out a career-high 252 batters.[30] His 18 wins tied for the AL lead, along with Corey Kluber and Jered Weaver.[31]

On January 21, 2015, Scherzer was signed by the Washington Nationals to a seven-year, $210 million contract. The contract included a $50 million signing bonus that would be paid out over 14 years, the largest contract deferral in MLB history.[33][34] On January 22, it was reported that Scherzer's contract calls for his salary to be $10 million in 2015, and $15 million in each of the next three seasons. It then increases to $35 million a year in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the seasons in which his deferrals begin. In addition, his contract also includes several award bonuses. He would receive $250,000 for winning a Cy Young, MVP or World Series MVP award, $150,000 if he's the MVP of the League Championship Series and $100,000 if he makes the All-Star team, wins a Gold Glove or wins a Silver Slugger award. The contract does not contain a no-trade clause.[35][36]

With a low three-quarters delivery (nearly sidearm) Scherzer throws four pitches: a fastball with good movement averaging 94–95 mph, a slider at 85–86 mph, a changeup at 82–85 mph, and a curveball at 78–79 mph. The slider is his primary off-speed pitch to right-handed hitters, and the changeup is primarily used against left-handed hitters. Scherzer throws the curveball sparingly, about four times a game.[37]

Scherzer's younger and only brother, Alex, died by suicide early in the summer of 2012. Alex had a passion for analyzing advanced baseball statistics or sabermetrics. Scherzer learned the value of sabermetrics from his brother, and he implements this as a tool to improve his game. Since Alex's death, Scherzer dedicates every start to his late brother.[38][39]